On November 7, for the first time in the history of bilateral relations, the Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, arrived in Tartu on an official visit. And he did not come empty-handed; he brought with him the Ukrainian Days of Culture — Ukrainian Days in Tartu: UKRAINE! UNMUTED.

The Ukrainian Days of Culture took place as part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 program. Ukraine already feels itself part of a larger European family, united not only by shared values but also by cultural connections. The program of the Ukrainian Days of Culture in Tartu, carefully prepared by the Tartu 2024 team with the support of the EU and the International Renaissance Foundation, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Institute and Lviv’s Institute of Cultural Strategy, once again demonstrated this connection. We extend our gratitude to Ms. Yulia Khomchyn for her efforts in organizing this event! Special thanks to Erni Kask, Tartu 2024’s International Relations Manager, for the excellent organization of the event!

On November 7, 2024, in the conference hall of the University of Tartu Library, during a session of the Tartu City Council, the Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, and the Mayor of Tartu, Urmas Klaas, signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Estonia actively supported the preparation of this important event.

Both cities are cultural capitals of their countries, major university centers with dynamic and youthful student communities. They stand as strongholds of national identity and statehood. Estonians say that the spirit of Estonia lives in Tartu. Lviv, in turn, has always preserved the spirit of Ukrainian freedom and independent thought, despite the pressures of tyrannies and empires.

We wish Lviv and Tartu a long-lasting and fruitful partnership. Meanwhile, we will continue working on other promising partnerships to ensure that the connections binding our countries and peoples grow stronger with each passing year.